TEXAS BACK - Who?

We sang in the car on the way there, we sang whilst putting up the tents, we sang round the campfires long after the bands had finished playing and when the festivals finished, we sang at the open mic nights at the Aclet Hotel in Bishop Auckland. Then someone said "You should get yourselves an agent and try your luck in the clubs." So, in late 2005, DEBBIE and I (GAV!N) were rehearsing for our first professional gig and trying to think of a name for the show when Mum piped up and said "Why not call it TEXAS BACK because it 'takes us Back' when we hear these songs." The name stuck and we played our first DUO gig on the 16th February 2006 at the 'Broken Wheel CMC' in Hesleden, near Hartlepool. We both remember being extremely nervous but the audience were very welcoming and after a couple of songs we got into our stride and sang our hearts out.

We were bitten by the bug and really enjoyed what we were doing so we started looking for shows wherever we could. The guys from Gigs and Jigs Country Music Magazine (Terry and Mo) who just happened to be the same folks from the open mic night at the Aclet booked us to do a show and we got a really good write up in their magazine for that one. About this time we had also made ourselves known to a local Country Music Agent, who gave us a list of gigs to keep us going.

A call came through one day from a lady called Irene who asked us if the Duo was available to play at their Christmas party. This turned out to be the Country Routes Magazine Christmas party and what a party we had. Debbie and I had chosen our songs well and the audience seemed to really enjoy themselves. We made the front cover of the very next issue and the phones started buzzing again. Incidentally, the songs on our first album were the ones we had played at that party.

In the last 4 years we have played at many clubs and festivals across the North of England and Scotland including the Great North Country Music Festival in 2007 and 2008. We have been interviewed a couple of times by Sam Harris on his Country Music Radio Show on NE1fm.com and we've had two Number One hits on SOUNDCLICK.com Country Music Charts. We have also been nominated for both the Northern Star Awards and The British Country Music Awards. In January 2010 we were once again honoured to be the front cover band for Country Routes Magazine but this time as Trio.

I don't think either one of us thought we'd get past those first few gigs but here we are in our fifth year and still having fun. We are now able to offer Duo or Solo acts to help accommodate every sort of Country venue from small clubs to large Festivals. Our songs seem to be enjoyed by both listeners and dancers alike and we love making sure our audiences have fun. Our Show includes some of our favourite songs from artistes such as Merle Haggard, Kenny Rogers, Toby Keith, Pam Tillis, Billy Currington, Patsy Cline, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Rodney Crowell, Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Tanya Tucker, Randy Travis, Glen Campbell, The Carter/Cash Family, The Judds, and many more. We also play some of our own self written songs in the show and have regularly enjoyed some great reviews in various Country Music Magazines.

So what next? ... Well, we hope to be getting into the recording studio again really soon. We are always looking for new places to play and we now have contact with a few more agents and clubs and we have a good few shows lined up over the next couple of years. We are now working in venues from Devon and Cornwall to Northern Scotland and a few stops in between so keep a look out and maybe we'll see you around.

Best Wishes

GAV!N & DEBBIE